Week 4 - What is World Music and Why does it exist?

There are many different interpretations around the globe of what ‘world music’ is classified as. Many would consider anything foreign as world music, whereas wealthier countries that are exposed to commercial music could see rare breeds of music as this genre. Music such as Spanish Salsa, African tribal music or any type of native brand is only seen as world music in our eyes because of it’s unique origin and because of the way our beliefs have evolved, this will always remain the same. In this country, world music has become a term that describes cultural music from different backgrounds that is not as accessible. I believe the existence of this music is to promote different cultures and their sounds without the financial motive and this can only be a good thing! Hence, links with Oxfam on CD’s such as Think Global: Acoustic Brazil. The question remains; is Britain’s interpretations of world music a right one? I believe that any song has the potential of being world music simply because it is the sound of someone’s specific culture and the nations beliefs are to narrow-minded in this instance.